“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
—Colossians 3:16

With Thankfulness in Our Hearts

Our services are held in the chapel of All Saints Episcopal Church at 151 S. Ann Street in Mobile and begin at 10:30 am each Sunday. Visitors are always welcome and parking is behind the church at Government and Ann. Enter through the church office door at the rear of the building or up the steps from the parking lot.

Our service includes both ancient and modern elements. In a given service we might sing a plaintive hymn from the 9th century—and a modern secular song with spiritual themes. We use gender-inclusive terms to respect the diversity of humanity and expand our vision of the Holy. Our evolving understanding of the Christian faith does not separate us from tradition—in fact we follow centuries-old basic spiritual practices. We pray. We preach. We pass the peace.

We think of worship as a spiritual practice that helps us assess what is of highest worth. Rooted in the Old English word for “worth,” worship is what we do when we sift through all that tries to claim our loyalty in order to seek what is truly worthy of contemplating and pursuing. Each week, through visual art and songs and poetry, through conversation and prayer and silence, through sermons and sacraments and scriptures, we as a community try to discern what is of ultimate worth. We find Jesus’s life and death and amazing life-again worthy of study and emulation. We don’t think Jesus ever asked anybody to praise him—only to follow him.

We celebrate open communion in every worship service, typically by dipping a wafer into grape juice. All are welcome to participate regardless of beliefs or backgrounds because we see communion not as a litmus test of dogma, but a picture of equality before God. This is a practice of sharing with one another; it is a faithful merger of memory and hope in Christ.

Most Sundays

On three Sundays out of each month, our worship services focus on scripture, prayer, sermon, song, and holy communion. Liturgically-based, our services are still comfortable and creative. Thoughtfully planned, these services often incorporate art, dance, and music. Sermons invariably offer fresh and illuminating insights into progressive Christianity. The worship of God at Open Table strengthens our caring community, fosters our spiritual growth and sends you out in service to others in Christ’s name.

Third Sunday Contemplative Service

On third Sundays of each month our services resemble the Taize-style services of sung prayers, scripture and silence. Ellen sometimes offers a brief commentary on a scripture, but there is no formal sermon. For information on this type of worship service, click here.

Fifth Sunday Presentation Service

When a particular month has a fifth Sunday, we are sometimes treated to an inspiring talk or presentation by a member of our congregation. Recent presentations have included personal stories about the grieving process, mental illness, and how joy survives in the context of shocking poverty. When there is no program on a fifth Sunday, we usually enjoy a shared potluck dinner.

Other Special Services

Special services in the Christian tradition are observed with a progressive emphasis. In our outdoor Blessings of the Animals service, Pastor Ellen has blessed cats, dogs, mice, and chickens. In this way we acknowledge the special bond we have with our pets and our responsibility to care for all creation. Our cozy Christmas Eve service invites children to come in their pajamas. We close that candlelit service of carols and the nativity story with hot chocolate and cookies. Ash Wednesday is observed with the traditional imposition of ashes to introduce the reflective season of Lent.